Molinar Stars in Coyotes’ Scenario

If Gavin Molinar could write the entire script for the senior film at Buena Park High School, the football team would be featured, winning the Freeway League championship and going on to glory in the Southern Section Division VI playoffs.

Highlights would include running back Angel Barrios scoring a winning touchdown, wide receiver Chris Stone making a circus catch or defensive back Randy Brown intercepting a pass in the end zone.

Unfortunately for Molinar, he edits only the football segments that will be among the memories of the Class of ’92. But the 6-foot-4, 240-pound lineman is playing a big part in the success story on the field.

Molinar reviews game footage with several teammates on Mondays and chooses what will be included in the film, which is produced entirely by students.

“The soundtrack is what makes the film,” Molinar said. “Matching the scenes with the right music will be the biggest challenge.”

Before last season, football was mostly comic relief in Buena Park’s senior films. The Coyotes had lost 28 consecutive Freeway League games since 1983.

“No one really cared about the football team,” Molinar said. “You went to the games to find out if there were any parties that night. Everybody hung out around the snack bar and nobody watched the game.”

Molinar got his first taste of varsity play as a sophomore in 1989. He was the backup quarterback in Buena Park’s opener against Brea-Olinda and threw two incomplete passes. The next day, he joined the junior varsity.

“I knew I wasn’t a quarterback, so I was more than happy to go down to the junior varsity,” Molinar said. “I was the utility player at fullback, linebacker and defensive end. We finished second in the league, and the varsity won only one league game.”

A new era began in 1990 with the hiring of Coach Marty Luczaj. He changed the school’s colors, mascot and, most important, the players’ attitudes while leading Buena Park to the playoffs.

Molinar became a fixture on the offensive and defensive lines, playing with added confidence that helped him earn All-Southern Section Division VI honors. Molinar credits Luczaj and his staff for the turnaround.

“We didn’t know what to expect at first,” he said. “Coach Luczaj was very intimidating. He earned everybody’s respect right away. We lost our first game to Brea (14-7), but you could see the improvement we made in the very first game.”

The prospects of a winning season didn’t look good when Buena Park opened league play with a 33-0 loss to Sunny Hills, but Molinar said the team never lost faith.

“The game was a disaster,” Molinar said. “But then we watched the game film and saw that we were pretty productive. Everything just seemed to go wrong for us early in the game. We focused on the next game and put the Sunny Hills game behind us. Everyone believed we could beat La Habra if we put it all together.”

Buena Park got it together, routing La Habra, 54-0, and went on to finish third in the Freeway League. The Coyotes lost to La Quinta, 25-22, in the first round of the playoffs, but Molinar said last year’s seniors laid the groundwork for success.

“They opened the door for us this year,” he said. “We got a taste of the playoffs last year, now we want more.”

Molinar and his teammates spent their nights last summer in the Buena Park weight room with one goal in mind: winning the league championship. Buena Park (4-1) begins its quest for the title when it plays host to Fullerton (1-3-1) for homecoming at 7:30 tonight.

It should be easy to spot Molinar. On offense, he will be providing blocks for running backs Barrios and Robert Starks or protecting quarterback Geno Robles.

As a defensive end, he will be chasing Fullerton running back Daniel Chacon or pursuing quarterback Keith Ginter.

College recruiters have taken notice. Molinar receives letters each week from UCLA, Cal, Colorado State and Fresno State. A 3.0 grade-point average in college prep courses also makes Molinar attractive.

Molinar’s most enjoyable activity comes in third period, when he works on the senior film.

“We’re going to start scoring the film with Metallica and Guns N’ Roses,” Molinar said. “The music is going to set this film apart from any other senior film.”

A league championship would also draw rave reviews.